A/N: Sorry! I couldn't resist… don't murder me in my sleep! Please! I know this one turned out absolutely putrid, and I think this must belong in some cheesy paperback romance novel somewhere. I slapped my hand after typing this. I hope I am able to get better (by better, see: less sappy... MUCH less sappy.) I know I am evil, thank you for concurring. Mikey6890 makes a good point- you all need something to brighten your midterms! Here you go!

Warnings: m/m… read and see…

Pairings: Harry/Cedric Diggory

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. (I wish I did!) Don't sue me! I'm only babbling on in sappy smut. I am making no profit from this work; the characters belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers studios, I have only borrowed them for a test drive. I don't even write them very well! I'm sorry!

... ... ... Chapter 5 ... ... ...

Off the main street in Hogsmeade, Cedric led the younger boy to their destination. The place in question was called Madame Puddifoot's- it was a cramped, steamy little place and everything seemed to be decorated with frills, bows, or some combination of the two. It was the kind of place that reminded Harry of the time he spent at Mrs. Figg's as a child, and he expected there to be doilies and cats strewn all over the place.

Cedric leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Wretched, isn't it? But the coffee's actually quite good. I promise we won't have to stay long."

Harry smiled, imagining that most of the female population of the school would've found the place 'adorable' or 'cute.' They took a seat at a small table in the corner, and Harry noticed the other people in the establishment for the first time. There were several couples at the other tables, many holding hands and others clearly had left holding hands behind quite a while ago. Harry looked nervously at Cedric, wondering if he was expected to hold his hand. Cedric must've noticed Harry's expression because he grinned and chuckled.

"I think this is where people go when others tell them to 'get a room,'" Cedric mused.

When the small, round owner of the shop bustled up a few moments later, Cedric ordered two coffees and then struck up conversation with Harry about the Quidditch World Cup.

"Of course, it must have been so much more exciting from the top box!" said Cedric. "The Ministers of Magic, right there! And then the whole Irish team was, what, a few feet away from you? I mean, we've both met Krum, right, but the whole Irish team!"

Harry smiled and shrugged. "It was pretty wicked, yeah." he said.

"And so modest, too…" admired Cedric patronizingly.

They both laughed; they were attracting rather dirty looks from the other customers, and obviously enthusiastic sports-talk was not commonplace here. In fact, talk itself wasn't very popular for that matter. There was a lot of lip moving going on, but the only sounds that came out were noises that sounded like a plunger jammed in a particularly stuck toilet. Harry mentioned this to Cedric in an undertone, and they both laughed loudly again. Cedric took a long drink of his coffee, and set his cup down.

"Well, we should probably head out before long or the others will start throwing hexes at us."

Harry nodded, setting his own cup on the table. Then he hesitated for a moment. "How do we, uh, I mean, who's…" he indicated the check, blushing a bit.

Cedric smiled. "I'll get it, don't worry about it." he said, and placed some sickles on the table. They left the coffee shop, and headed up the main street, stopping into Honeydukes and then Zonko's to poke around a bit. Harry noted Cedric's favourite candy (fizzing whizbees), and the gags he found most amusing (fanged frisbees). When Cedric mentioned that he needed a new quill or two, so they went into Scrivenshaft's and they examined some of the outlandish implements while restraining their chuckles, and then morosely browsed the more sedate feathers.

Finally they headed into the Three Broomsticks with bags full of their shopping, and Harry ordered them two butterbeers.

"I'm paying for this round," he insisted.

Cedric relented, nodding. "Alright, then."

After getting their drinks, they turned to find a table. Hermione and Ron were settled in the back, and Ron waved them over.

"Shall we?" Harry asked Cedric.

Cedric nodded. "Why not?"

They both made their way back to join the others, taking seats close beside each other.

Hermione smiled, obviously restraining herself. Ron struck up conversation about Quidditch again, and Cedric and Harry jumped in relatively easily. The conversation shifted towards the Triwizard Tournament after a bit, and Hermione asked them if they'd been working on their clues.

"Well, not too much, because it hurts my housemates' ears when I open my egg." said Cedric, shrugging. "I'm sure we'll work it out before too long."

Harry nodded in agreement, taking a swig of his butterbeer. They talked about his amazing flying in the first task again, and he blushed as he was praised from all sides.

"Really, it wasn't that amazing…" said Harry modestly. He smiled despite himself and looked down at the table for a moment. "I mean, if Krum had thought of it he'd have flown loads better than me…" he started, but he was cut off by Ron.

"No he wouldn't have. Only you fly like that! He's got talent, but it's more tactical than anything else. He's a one-wizard formation, he is."

Harry shrugged. "Well, like I said, it wasn't that amazing…"

Hermione and Cedric both started talking at the same time now, "Don't be so shy!" and "Yes it was!"

That made everyone laugh, and Harry found his hand searching under the table as the group fell silent for a moment. His hand met Cedric's arm, and then followed it down to his hand, which he felt open to let his slip into it. Harry wasn't sure why he had done that, but it seemed to be the right thing – and Cedric hadn't refused him. He felt that he must certainly have been blushing. He and Cedric smiled at one another, and Cedric gave Harry's hand a little squeeze.

Neither Ron nor Hermione noticed this, and they both started in on Krum's skills. Hermione had met him in the library several times and she said he was more than just a Quidditch player, while Ron insisted he had the brain of a small rodent unless it came to the Wizard's sport. Both laughing, Harry and Cedric watched them go back and forth, almost starting to bicker. Harry put in a comment now and then, disarming the situation a little at a time.

"No, Ron, it's not possible to have the brain of a slug, unless Snape counts."

"Professor Snape, Harry." said Hermione. "We may not like him but we must be polite at least. That's what Dumbledore says."

Harry yawned a few minutes later, and he reluctantly slipped his hand from Cedric's to check his watch. "We should get back before too long," he said, looking apologetically at Cedric and placing his hand back under the table to reclaim its lost ground.

Ron checked his watch and said, "You're right! I didn't realize it was nearly time for dinner! We don't want to get our Hogsmeade privileges taken away…"

Ron and Hermione stood, and Harry again slipped his hand from Cedric's sadly to stand, waving to his two best friends and then lingering. "Shall we?" he asked. Cedric nodded.

"We'd better," he said. Harry reached to take Cedric's hand again and their fingers laced together as they walked back to the school quietly.

"Are you nervous about being seen together?" asked Harry, as they started to near the castle.

"I'm not sure. I just know I don't particularly want to let go of your hand at the moment." said Cedric. Harry blushed and Cedric grinned at him. "Are you?"

"Am I what?" said Harry, who'd rather lost track, blushing at the older student.

"Are you nervous, about being seen with me?" repeated the 7th year slowly.

"Well, I suppose they'll find out sooner or later, right? It might be better to wait a while though. I don't look forward to Malfoy finding out…"

Cedric nodded. "Yeah, there are people I'd rather have not know as well." he hesitated for a moment and then let go of Harry's hand, letting his own fall beside him.

Harry and Cedric walked up the steps to the entrance hall in silence, then Harry and Cedric stood at the base of the main stairway, looking at each other sadly.

"Well, time to go in for dinner soon…" started Harry. Cedric nodded silently.

Appearing to deliberate with himself, Cedric reached out and put his hand on Harry's shoulder before he could climb the stairs. "Listen, could we step outside for a moment?"

Harry nodded. "Sure, everything alright?"

Cedric nodded, and then shrugged. "Let's just step outside for a bit."

Harry followed unquestioningly, and once they were out and away from the door they found their hands together again, fingers linked. They walked around the edge of the lake for a moment, stopping beside a yew tree.

"Harry, I had a really great time today." started Cedric.

"Me too," agreed Harry. Somehow their other hands were linked now, and they were facing each other. "I hope we can spend more time together, in school." said the Gryffindor.

"Yeah, I'd like that." said Cedric quietly.

Harry looked into the other boy's eyes, and saw him looking back. Brilliant green and clear grey met, lingering. They were close now, but Harry didn't remember either of them taking a step forward. Harry could smell him and feel the slightly taller boy close to himself. Cedric's breath formed foggy clouds in the cold air, misting and mingling with Harry's own frozen breaths. The Hufflepuff's face looked really cold, and Harry freed one of his hands to press against it lightly, caressing it with his thumb. Cedric's arm was around his waist now, and Harry didn't quite remember it having been placed there. The arm pulled him closer still, and they stood there, barely inches apart for a few seconds.

And then they were kissing- and Harry didn't remember how that happened either. All he knew were Cedric's lips on his, his tongue on Cedric's, Cedric's mouth on his. The seventh year's lips were smooth and soft; Harry could smell the older boy all around him; Cedric was kissing him. These facts dimly registered in his mind, and his spirit swelled with ecstasy. He wouldn't be able to hide his smile from Hermione and Ron this time.

The two boys just stood there, tasting each other, until Harry began to shiver despite Cedric's warm body against his. Reluctantly breaking the kiss, Harry said, "They'll be missing us at dinner,"

Cedric nodded quietly, leaning in and nibbling on Harry's lower lip before pulling away completely. "You're right" he said, in a hoarse voice; as though he wasn't used to talking. Harry noticed that he wasn't the only one who was grinning insanely. They pulled themselves apart after another moment, and started towards the main doors again in silence, although the atmosphere was much different between them this time.

They slipped through and into the Great Hall; most of the students were just starting their desserts. Cedric motioned Harry to follow him, and he led the Gryffindor to the kitchens. They ate, and then said their goodbyes again. Cedric risked kissing Harry's hand, who then blushed deeply and smiled.

"See you tomorrow," he said.